Hi lentionne,
Thank you for the very interesting question. In brief, the 1st
Canadian Infantry Division left Halifax on the 17th December 1939 and
arrived at Greenock, Scotland on 25th December, 1939.
Field Formations:
1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Canadian Cavalry Regiment (1st Hussars)
1st Field Brigade, RCA (A,B,C Batteries, RCHA (PF), 54th Field
Battery)
2nd Field Brigade, RCA (7th, 8th, 10th, 35th Field Batteries)
3rd Field Brigade, RCA (19th, 77th, 92nd, 109th Field Batteries)
1st Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA - Received Btys of 1st Army Field Bde on
1 October 1939
1st, 3rd, 4th Field Companies, RCE
2nd Field Park Company, RCE
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
The Royal Canadian Regiment - Permanent Force
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
48th Highlanders of Canada
The Toronto Scottish Regiment M-G
http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/casf.html
"The 1st Canadian Infantry Division HQ was formed in October 1939. The
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade was raised in Ontario. Its battalions
remained at their home stations until November 1939, when the brigade
assembled at Valcartier, PQ. It embarked for the United Kingdom on 17
December 1939 and arrived at Greenock, Scotland on 25 December. It
moved to Aldershot on arrival. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was
raised in Western, Canada. The battalions remained at their home
stations until they moved to Halifax in mid-December 1939 to depart.
2nd Brigade embarked for the United Kingdom on 22 December 1939 and
arrived at Greenock, Scotland on 30 December. It moved to Aldershot on
arrival.
http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/canada.html
BOOK:
"On the 17th of December, 1939, a convoy of great ships steamed into
the River Clyde ... among which were four Canadian destroyers ... The
1st Canadian Division was arriving." The 1st Canadian Division was was
commanded by Major-General A.G.L. McNaughton, and was known as the
"First Flight". "The Second Flight, comprising the balance of the 1st
Division, arrived on 30 December, 1939." The headquarters was
established in London on Cockspur Street.
"Thus began on of the most remarkable episodes in the history of the
British Empire. The 7500 men who arrived in the United KIngdom that
winter day were the vanguard of more than 335,000 Canadian soldiers
whom the war was to bring thither during the next five years."
THE CANADIAN ARMY AT WAR: The Canadians in Britian 1939-1944. No. 1.
Ottawa: King's Printer [1945]. pp 11-15
PHOTO:
The Canadians Arrive:
The "First Flight" of the Canadian Division lands in Scotland, 17th
December, 1939.
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/content/images/2002_1369.JPG
(This photo is in the book, along with a photo of the 1st Division
leaving Halifax)
Copies are for sale on used book sites, such as
Bookfinder: http://www.bookfinder.com and
Abebooks: http://www.abebooks.com
"By end-September 1939, however, more than 58,000 men and women had
enlisted in the three services and on 10 December 7,400 troops
comprising the lead units of 1st Canadian Infantry Division (1 CID)
sailed for Britain from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving at the Scottish
port of Greenock on 25 December.
A day later the first Canadian soldiers had arrived in the Hampshire
garrison town of Aldershot, which would remain the main base of the
Canadian army during the Second War. By September 1942 six Canadian
divisions , grouped under the 1st Canadian Army, were based in
southern England between Aldershot and the Channel."
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/trlout_txo_en/TRA13494.html
(There seems to be a slight discrepency in the day of departure, but
we believe the 10th is an error and they actually left on the 17th)
Additional Links:
"In 1939 the regular Canadian Army numbered only about 4,500, but with
a steadily deteriorating political scene Canada had, since 1936,
increased defence spending, mainly on the militia of which there were
over a hundred regiments. Upon the outbreak of war in September 1939
Canada decided to raise two divisions for home defence or deployment
overseas if called for. Volunteers flocked to the colours, nearly
sixty thousand in September alone, and the British Government was
informed that a division of Canadian troops would be available for
deployment in Europe by December, provided the British could equip it.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division arrived in Aldershot in December
1939 and January 1940, moving into barracks left empty since the
British 1st and 2nd Divisions departed for France the previous
September."
http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/aldershot/faq/canada.html
"Although Canada did not declare war until 10 September, 1939, the
armed forces began to gear up for the coming conflict in late August.
The governments Defence Scheme No. 3 called for the formation of a
mobile force to defend Canada and, on 25 August, a number of militia
units were activated to assist in the protection of federal property,
to guard essential communications, and to man coastal defence
installations. On 1 September -- the day Germany invaded Poland -- an
order was issued to establish the Canadian Active Service Force,
consisting of two infantry divisions and ancillary troops. Canada's
three Permanent Force infantry regiments -- the Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry, the Royal 22e Regiment (the Van Doos), and
the Royal Canadian Regiment -- were mobilised with one battalion in
each brigade of the 1st Division to give that division a professional
core. The best fourteen militia regiments (infantry, armour, and
artillery) from across Canada were also mobilised to form the balance
of the two divisions. On 19 September King announced that the 1st
Division would be available for overseas service if required (if
requested by the British)."
http://www.valourandhorror.com/DB/BACK/Army_39.htm
The Second World War Experience Centre:
http://www.war-experience.org/
IMAGES:
Halifax Harbour, February 21, 1943:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.telusplanet.net/public/dickieb/harry/photos/halifaxharbour.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dickieb/harry/overseas.html&h=540&w=718&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhalifax%2Bharbour%2B%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG%26as_qdr%3Dall
Entrance, Halifax Harbour, 15 Nov 1938: postage stamp:
http://data2.archives.ca/ap/s/s000301k.gif
Satellite / hydrographic view:
http://gsca.nrcan.gc.ca/pubprod/of3154/images/harbour2.gif
Port in Greenock, Scotland:
http://www.aadamson.co.uk/fpso1_small.jpg
Aerial view of Greenock:
http://www.national.com/company/pressroom/images/greenock.jpg
"...estuary of the River Clyde (Scotland)"
http://www.thestrathallan.com/tailo.htm
Hopefully we have been able to provide you with all of the information
you are looking for. If you have any questions, please post a
clarification request before rating my answer. Again, it has been a
very enjoyable research project for us. Thank you.
Sincerely,
hummer
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